Author Archives: Shelana deSilva

Shelana recently joined Save the Redwoods League as the Director of Government Affairs and Public Funding. She has a strong track record helping national and statewide nonprofits develop partnerships, lead campaigns and initiatives, and secure public funding to achieve their missions.

Sequoia National Park. Photo by Anthony Ambrose

Startling Report Highlights Issue of Air Pollution Among National Parks

on

According to a recent report from the National Parks Conservation Service, that last part of the equation is problematic at several national parks, including Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Yosemite National Parks. Startlingly, the report names Sequoia and Kings Canyon as among the parks with the worst air pollution in the country, meaning that the parks “had unhealthy air for most park visitors and rangers to breathe for more than two months of the year, mostly in the summer months.”

California State Capitol. Photo by Marcin Wichary, Flickr Creative Commons

Forest Conservation and the State Budget

on

Gov. Gavin Newsom in late June signed a nearly $215 billion budget for the State of California. With public funding a key part of our organization’s strategy for protecting and preserving California’s redwood forests, Save the Redwoods League plays an active role in the budget process, advocating for our priorities. As one would expect, there are many interests at play in these negotiations. While the Legislature didn’t approve funding for all of our priorities, there were some significant victories.

Help protect native redwood forest plants such as this slink pod. Photo by Paolo Vescia

Botany Bill Fosters Power of Science

on

Your voice is needed to support the new Botany Bill (H.R. 1572), which promotes plant research, improves staffing of trained botanists on federal lands, grows the market for native plant materials, and supports federal programs to protect rare, endangered, and native plants such as those species found in our redwood forests. Botanical science research is an essential element in our fight against climate change.

RNP

Now is the Time for Permanent Funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund

on

The Land and Water Conservation Fund, was permanently reauthorized earlier this year. On the heels of that historic victory, the conservation community is now calling on Congress to pass legislation for permanent, dedicated funding to protect wildlands and open space and make parks accessible.

Our national monuments, including the pictured Giant Sequoia National Monument, are at risk. Photo by William Croft.

Our National Monuments Need Your Voice Today

on

Congress needs to hear that you support a new bill to protect our national monuments—including Giant Sequoia National Monument—from actions that threaten their natural and cultural resources. The ANTIQUITIES Act of 2019 would reinforce existing laws that safeguard the status of our presidentially designated national monuments. The League needs your help to push for protection of our national monuments.

Redwood National Park ehanced by LWCF. #SaveLWCF

One Step Closer: America’s Most Successful Conservation Program Advances

on

One hundred and thirty-five days after the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) expired for the second time in three years, permanent reauthorization passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 92-8, demonstrating strong bipartisan support for the program. Learn how you can help #SaveLWCF.

We’re reducing the threat of severe wildfire by managing vegetation buildups in this Humboldt County forest.

New Grants Support Wildfire, Carbon Projects

on

Two new awards from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) are supporting League work to increase the carbon sequestration potential of redwood and giant sequoia ecosystems, while protecting them and surrounding communities from the threat of severe wildfires.

Mailliard Ranch. Photo by John Birchard

Urge the 116th Congress to Renew the LWCF Today!

on

Now that the 116th Congress has taken office, your voice is needed. Urge your Member of Congress to support permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), America’s most useful and cost-effective conservation program. LWCF was allowed to expire last year, and so far the country has lost more than $230 million that should be used to protect redwood forests and other wildlands and make parks accessible.

What the Election Results Mean for California’s Redwoods

on

The midterm election on November 6, 2018, held mixed results for conservation and climate change priorities, and they will have lasting impacts on our ability to protect, restore, and connect people to California’s redwoods.

Three people hiking in the redwoods

Speak Up for LWCF, the Top US Conservation Fund

on

America’s most useful and cost-effective conservation program was allowed to expire this September, and we need your help to keep it going! For more than 50 years, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has helped protect wildlife habitat, build parks and trails, and connect communities to the outdoors in every county across the country – without using a single taxpayer dollar.

October 2018 proclaimed California Redwoods Month by Gov. Brown.

Governor Proclaims October California Redwoods Month

on

Governor Jerry Brown has proclaimed October 2018 California Redwoods Month in honor of the redwood forests, “a globally significant treasure and a quintessential symbol of the Golden State.” With this Proclamation, Governor Brown and the State of California have taken an important stand for the redwoods!

Pristine unnamed creeks run through Harold Richardson Redwoods Reserve.

3 Measures to Support Our Forests

on

NEW PROPOSITION BOLSTERS LEAGUE PARKS AND CLIMATE CHANGE WORK California voters made history last summer by approving a funding measure to enable improvement of parks and provide more access to them, protect our water, fight climate change, and address the …

Marbled murrelet is listed as "Endangered." Photo by Tim Lenz, Flickr Creative Commons

The Endangered Species Act is Endangered

on

The Department of the Interior is working to revise regulatory language in the ESA. The alarming proposal would allow for the analysis of economic impacts when considering listing species or considering protections — a reversal of the current statute.

Smith River, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. Photo by Jon Parmentier

Congressman Seeks to Protect Redwoods, Rivers, and Communities

on

Congressman Huffman — whose district oversees more ancient coast redwoods than any other — introduced his vision for California’s northwestern forests and wilderness areas, The Northwest California Wilderness, Recreation, and Working Forests Act of 2018.

Visitors in the 1920s stand among colossal giant sequoia in what is now Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Photographer unknown, circa 1920s, Save the Redwoods League photograph collection, BANC PIC 2006.030. The Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley.

Celebrating 112 Years of the Antiquities Act

on

On June 8, 1906, exactly 112 years ago today, the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, signed the Antiquities Act into law. It was this act that allowed the protection of places such as Muir Woods National Monument.

Vote "Yes" on Prop 68. Photo by Paolo Vescia

Vote #YesOn68 and Tell a Friend

on

Save the Redwoods League supports Proposition 68, the Clean Water and Safe Parks Act, because this measure will provide the investments we need to help keep California’s redwoods resilient and accessible to everyone. Help spread the word and vote #YesOn68!

2018 is the Year of the Redwoods. Photo by Jon Parmentier

Celebrate the Year of the Redwoods with Us

on

The state Senate declared 2018 the Year of the Redwoods in honor of California’s state trees and in recognition of the League’s 100th anniversary.

Show Your Support for Clean Water, Safe Parks

on

As a California voter, you can make a transformational investment in our redwood forests and parks, and our state’s water resources by voting “yes” on June 5 for Proposition 68, the Clean Water and Safe Parks Act of 2018. The act would provide sorely needed funding to improve parks with new trails and visitor amenities and help our redwood parks remain healthy as the climate changes and our population grows. See how you can take action today.

LWCF funding would help us protect the pictured Mailliard Ranch. Photo by Paolo Vescia

Give Thanks for a Conservation Victory

on

Good news about America’s most important conservation program: Save the Redwoods League and our conservation partners are celebrating recent bipartisan federal legislation that increases spending for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Thanks to our lawmakers, many critical conservation and recreational access projects will receive funding this year. Urge your member of Congress to reauthorize LWCF before it expires in September.